Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam extract reduces ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation and T helper 2 responses in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam (BC) was known as traditional herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory property in the Orient.

Aim of the study

Allergic asthma is inflammatory disease of airways associated with enhanced T helper (Th) 2 lymphocytes responses to allergens, leading to eosinophilic infiltration and elevated serum IgE levels. Although there were some studies that BC extract had an anti-inflammatory property, there was no study on asthma. In present study, we investigated the suitability of BC extract as a therapeutic candidate in the treatment of allergic airway disease in ovalbumin-induced asthma model.

Materials and methods

Balb/C mice (female, 6 weeks old) were treated by ovalbumin sensitization and nebulization, and used as asthma model. The number of eosinophil in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the degree of eosinophila were investigated by hematoxylin and eosin stain and the infiltration of inflammatory cells into lung tissues was examined by staining by hematoxylin and eosin solution. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4 in BAL fluid, immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum, interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-4 production in splenocyte culture from Balb/C mice (not treated, 6 weeks old) that incubated with or without BC extract for 48 h were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The level of eosinophils was decreased by treatment of the animals with BC extract (40 mg/kg) and correspondingly, a significantly lowered degree of eosinophila was also reported (p < 0.01). In lung tissue, BC extract reduced the increased immune cell infiltration induced by OVA (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of IL-4 and IgE in BAL fluid or serum up-regulated by OVA was decreased by BC extract. Finally, IFN-γ production was significantly increased (p < 0.01), while IL-4 production significantly decreased (p < 0.01), after treatment of the culture supernatants of splenocytes with BC extract.

Conclusions

These results indicated that BC extract reduces OVA-induced airway inflammation and Th 2 response in mice, suggesting that BC extract can be a therapeutic candidate for allergic airway disease, including asthma.     

Risk of Subsequent Events in Patients With Minor Ischemic Stroke or High-Risk Transient Ischemic Attack

This study aimed to present the prognosis after minor acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA), using a definition of subsequent stroke in accordance with recent clinical trials. In total, 9,506 patients with minor AIS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≤ 5) or high-risk TIA (acute lesions or ≥ 50% cerebral artery steno-occlusion) admitted between November 2010 and October 2013 were included. The primary outcome was the composite of stroke (progression of initial event or a subsequent event) and all-cause mortality. The cumulative incidence of stroke or death was 11.2% at 1 month, 13.3% at 3 months and 16.7% at 1 year. Incidence rate of stroke or death in the first month was 12.5 per 100 person-months: highest in patients with large artery atherosclerosis (17.0). The risk of subsequent events shortly after a minor AIS or high-risk TIA was substantial, particularly in patients with large artery atherosclerosis.     

颈髓损伤并四肢瘫痪患者的社会支持、心理状态和生活质量之间的关系

目的 分析颈髓损伤并四肢瘫痪患者的社会支持、心理状态和生活质量之间的关系.方法 选取我院近三年来收取的90例颈髓损伤并四肢瘫痪患者,采用问卷调查方式对患者的社会支持、心理状态和生活质量进行评估,分别采用社会支持量表、症状自评量表(SCL-90)及生活质量量表评估,评估三者间的关系.结果 本组患者社会支持总平均分(40....     

Particulate matter induces pro‐inflammatory cytokines via phosphorylation of p38 MAPK possibly leading to dermal inflammaging

Particulate matter (PM) is known to have harmful effects on human health. Epidemiological studies have suggested that PM exposure is related to skin diseases and extrinsic skin ageing. However, the mechanisms by which PM affects skin are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of PMs on epidermal inflammation and skin ageing using a co‐culture of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and fibroblasts (HDF). SRM 1648a (pmA) and 1649b (pmB), which mainly comprise heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, respectively, were used as reference PMs. Cytotoxic effects, activation of AhR, phosphorylation of p38 kinase and ROS generation were examined in PM‐treated HaCaT cells. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK induced by PMs was shown to be critically important for the increases in IL‐1α and IL‐1β expression. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP1 and COX2 were markedly increased in HDF cells co‐cultured with PM‐treated HaCaT cells. In conclusion, PMs induce the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in keratinocytes via the p38 MAPK pathway, and these interleukins increase the expression of MMP1 and COX2 in HDF cells. These results suggest that PMs trigger skin ageing via p38 MAPK activation and interleukin secretion in epidermal keratinocytes.     

PBL教学法在临床护理带教中的应用研究进展

护理学是一门专业性、实践性较强的学科,护理人员不仅要具有丰富的专业知识储备,还要具有较强的专业技能及专业态度。临床护理带教是培养高素质护理人员的重要措施,也是护理人员将所学知识与临床实践相结合、正式步入临床护理工作岗位的重要转折点。以问题为基础的教学法(PBL)是一种较为先进的教学方法,广泛用于各领域教学中。自从将PBL教学法引入医学教育中,护理学教育也不断进行PBL教学实践,以培养优质的临床护理人才,推动医疗护理服务的发展。文章就PBL教学法与传统教学方法的区别,以及在临床护理带教中的应用价值及局限性进行综述。     

基于早期教育与护理干预策略下的婴儿生长发育效果评价

目的 探讨早期教育与护理对婴儿生长发育的影响.方法 选择148例足月健康新生儿为研究对象,采用随机数字表法分为观察组78例和对照组70例.观察组家长均接受早期教育与护理培训,对照组家长均未接受早期教育与护理培训.比较2组婴儿家长早期教育及护理知识知晓率,并比较2组婴儿1岁时生长发育情况、发育商及四病发病率.结果 观察组婴儿家长早期教育及护理知识知晓率显著高于对照组(P＜0.01);观察组婴儿1岁时体质量、身高均显著重于、高于对照组(P＜0.05);观察组婴儿1岁时大运动、语言能力、精细运动发育评分显著高于对照组(P＜0.05);观察组婴儿1岁前四病发病率显著低于对照组(P＜0.05).结论 早期教育与护理培训有助于提高家长相关知识知晓率,促进婴儿生长发育,提高儿童整体健康水平.     

从肾阴虚论治2型糖尿病

2型糖尿病的病因比较复杂,病机之本在于阴津亏耗。2型糖尿病肾阴虚者可有口干、口渴、体质量减轻、多食、小便多、小便甜、皮肤干燥或瘙痒、脉象微小等典型症状和体征。安徽中医药大学第一附属医院院内制剂丹蛭降糖胶囊可通过滋肾阴、益气、通络等功效发挥降血糖、降血脂及改善胰岛素抵抗等作用。文章立足于理、法、方、药4个环节,系统分析临床有效原因,从而更好地总结从肾阴论治2型糖尿病的特色及优势。